Insect Alert For

Black Cutworm

Risk Level:
Low
Affected Area:
Full page
Alert Details

A more active weather pattern is still slated to take hold across much of the corn-growing region in the next week. Temperatures are likely to warm and moisture levels increase on southerly flow. The result will be near daily black cutworm migration chances across at least portions of the corn-growing region. A couple of features have become higher confidence in the forecast this morning, with one being a weak low pressure moving from the central Plains into Iowa Friday into Saturday, and then a cold front is still expected to push through at least some of the corn-growing region next Monday/Tuesday. Low risks are predicted tonight into tomorrow from the Plains as far east as Lake Michigan and I-57, although better chances probably reside west of the Mississippi River. Low risks then focus east of the weak low tomorrow night into Saturday, or mainly east of I-35 to I-57 in Illinois. Low risks then cover much of the corn-growing region over the weekend into early next week ahead of the stronger cold front. Risks are being kept in the Low category given somewhat weak southerly flow and also the fact that advanced planting progress/emerging crops across much of the corn-growing region may be past critical growth stages where black cutworms could do damage once the next generation develops as a result of any moth flights over the holiday weekend. Growers with newly emerged corn should be scouting fields as flights in the past month may result in some larvae feeding/cutting where flights did occur especially the latter half of April.